The Mini-Cog test is a 3-minute screening tool used to detect cognitive impairment in older adults. It consists of a 3-item recall test to assess memory and a clock-drawing test. Scoring involves assigning 1 point for each recalled word and scoring the clock drawing as normal or abnormal. A score of 0 is positive for impairment, 1-2 with an abnormal clock is positive, and 1-2 with a normal clock or 3 is negative. The Mini-Cog is effective at screening for various dementias and detects mild cognitive impairment. It is less affected by subjects' ethnicity, language, and education than other screening tests.

1. Instructions for the Mini-Cog Test
Administration
the Mini-Cog test is a 3-minute instrument to screen for cognitive impairment in older
adults in the primary care setting. The Mini-Cog uses a three-item recall test for memory
and a simply scored clock-drawing test (CDT). The latter serves as an “informative
distractor,” helping to clarify scores when the memory recall score is intermediate. The
Mini-Cog was as effective as or better than established screening tests in both an
epidemiologic survey in a mainstream sample and a multi-ethnic, multilingual population
comprising many individuals of low socioeconomic status and education level. In
comparative tests, the Mini-Cog was at least twice as fast as the Mini-Mental State
Examination. The Mini-Cog is less affected by subject ethnicity, language, and
education, and can detect a variety of different dementias. Moreover, the Mini-Cog
detects many people with mild cognitive impairment (cognitive impairment too mild to
meet diagnostic criteria for dementia).
Scoring (see figure 1)
1 point for each recalled word
Score clock drawing as Normal (the patient places the correct time and the clock
appears grossly normal) or Abnormal
Score
0 Positive for cognitive impairment
1-2 Abnormal CDT then positive for cognitive impairment
1-2 Normal CDT then negative for cognitive impairment
3 Negative screen for dementia (no need to score CDT)
Page 1 of 2Instructions for the Mini-Cog Test
2/13/2008http://geriatrics.uthscsa.edu/educational/med_students/minicog_admin.htm

2. Reference
Borson S. The mini-cog: a cognitive “vitals signs” measure for dementia screening in multi-lingual elderly
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2000; 15(11):1021.
Page 2 of 2Instructions for the Mini-Cog Test
2/13/2008http://geriatrics.uthscsa.edu/educational/med_students/minicog_admin.htm

3. Pt. Name:______________________ DOB:_______________________
Date:__________________________
Instructions
Inside the circle draw the hours of a clock as if a child would draw them
Place the hands of the clock to represent the time “forty five minutes past ten
o’clock”
Instrucciones
Dentro del circulo dibuje las horas del reloj como si lo haria un niño.
Ponga las manos del reloj para representar el tiempo “cuarenta y cinco
minutos despues de las diez”

4. The MINI-COG
1. Instruct the patient to listen carefully and repeat the following
` APPLE WATCH PENNY
MANZANA RELOJ PESETA
2. Administer the Clock Drawing Test
3. Ask the patient to repeat the three words given previously
_________ _________ __________
Scoring
Number of correct items recalled _______ [if 3 then negative screen. STOP]
If answer is 1-2
Is CDT Abnormal? No Yes
If No, then negative screen
If Yes, then screen positive for cognitive impairment